Jefferson Muzzles

April 13, 2004 9:25 AM

The Jefferson Muzzlesare awarded as a means to draw national attention to abridgments of free speech and press and, at the same time, foster an appreciation for those tenets of the First Amendment.
posted by papercake (8 comments total)

Here's the story from last year, and the story from two years ago.

I always get a kick out of the Muzzles. Of the winners for this year, announced today, I liked the Arizona State License Commission and the Pilot Point (TX) Police Department. YMMV.
posted by waldo at 9:45 AM on April 13, 2004

i applaud the concept of free speech, but strongly feel that the exercise of such a powerful public responsibility ought to be contained within designated zones, for counter-terror purposes.
posted by quonsar at 9:47 AM on April 13, 2004

What, no Antonin Scalia?!
posted by wsg at 10:03 AM on April 13, 2004

i applaud the concept of free speech, but strongly feel that the exercise of such a powerful public responsibility ought to be contained within designated zones, for counter-terror purposes.

I got your free speech zone right here: " "
posted by papercake at 10:11 AM on April 13, 2004

Scalia was this year. These awards are for 2003. Expect Scalia to win in a year's time.
posted by waldo at 10:32 AM on April 13, 2004

maybe they should just rename the awards 'The Scalias?'
posted by NationalKato at 10:55 AM on April 13, 2004

heh. I live in Broward County near the location of one of the award-winning Muzzles. Our perception was that the Parks Department overreacted, but that the group that was muzzled was also a bit over the top. They loved the publicity and used it to promote their church (which is fine, IMHO). I suppose the lesson to be learned is that denial of speech sometimes yells the message louder than allowing it.
posted by stevis at 3:56 PM on April 13, 2004

Ok...who are the Texas MeFi's willing to go with me to Pilot Point and protest? I can think of all kinds of good signs for this one:

If God didn't like 'em, he wouldn't have made them so fun to look at!
Nipple Nazi's, NO!
Unbind our Boobs!
Free PP's Double D's!

What we need here, is a busload of Hooters chicks and a couple gallons of tequila. Then, boy howdy, then we can make that whole biblical boobage seem tame in comparison.

I'm just saying...it could be a fun weekend. Besides, if they start getting too testy, we can make our get-away while the Hooters girls distract them. It'll be like the Dukes of Hazard, only without the cool car, bad hair, and the inevitable impossible jump.
posted by dejah420 at 10:00 PM on April 13, 2004